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Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 99-07-14Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>CONTENTS
WEDNESDAY 14 JULY 1999 [01] HEADLINES--- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides, said today that Greece and Cyprus communicate perfectly.--- US Defence Secretary, William Cohen, said today that the United States want a solution to the Cyprus problem, but would not press Turkey towards this end. --- The Council of Ministers today agreed on Cyprus' positions regarding the next three chapters of the acquis communautaire. --- Tens of thousands of Iranians marched through Tehran today in support of Islamic rule. AND --- An Albanian man armed with a grenade seized a Greek bus today and is holding seven people hostage. [02] KASOULIDES CYPRUSAthens and Nicosia reiterated today that there is no problem regarding possible connection of Cyprus' European Union accession course with Euro-Turkish relations, after statements by Greek Alternate Foreign Minister, Yiannos Kranidiotis.Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides, said today that Greece and Cyprus communicate perfectly and that the island welcomes the preconditions set by Greece regarding accession to the EU. Greek Government Spokesman, Demetris Reppas, said that there may have been various explanations, but the substance remains the same. Mr Kranidiotis had said in an interview that for the EU to have closer relations with Turkey, there should be progress on the Cyprus problem, no connection of a solution with the island's EU accession course, Greco-Turkish relations, the democratisation of Turkey, and the need for Europeans to make a statement of solidarity regarding the Aegean. [03] COHEN GREECEUS Defence Secretary, William Cohen, said today that the United States want a solution to the Cyprus problem, but would not press Turkey towards this end.Mr Cohen, who met today with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, said that he considers the forthcoming talks between Greece and Cyprus to be very important. He also described as important the current implementation of confidence building measures in the Aegean. Mr Cohen and Mr Simitis talked about Greco-Turkish relations, the Cyprus problem, and the Balkans. Mr Cohen referred to the close co-operation between Greece and the United States in the Balkans. The US official is now in Ankara for talks with the Turkish Government. [04] LONDON BILL CYPRUSA bill was submitted today to the British House of Commons, urging all interested parties to utilise the new initiative on the Cyprus problem, so as to terminate the division of the island and its people.The bill was read out to a gathering last night, at the House of Commons, in the presence of about 25 Labour and Conservative MPs. The event was organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the National Cypriot Federation. Yesterday evening, a demonstration was staged outside the House of Commons, against the 1974 Turkish invasion. [05] IRAN PROTESTSTens of thousands of Iranians marched through Tehran today in support of Islamic rule as a senior official warned that those behind six days of growing unrest could face execution.Hassan Rowhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's top security body, said that those involved in the last days' riots, destruction of public property and attacks against the system will be tried and punished. Rowhani, who was speaking to the rally protesting the unrest, was referring to charges which usually carry the death sentence under Iran's Islamic law. Witnesses at the peaceful two-hour march said some 50 youths were loaded into police vans by plain-clothes security forces. At today's rally, called by the clerical establishment and backed by most moderate groups, marchers carried Iranian flags and pictures of the late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his successor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The march was staged near the site of clashes between demonstrators and security forces a day earlier. Increasingly militant students, outraged at attacks against colleagues, had earlier challenged the Islamic leadership, a move that alarmed many of their fellow demonstrators. [06] GREECE HOSTAGESAn Albanian man armed with a grenade seized a Greek bus today and was holding seven people hostage, protesting what he said was a brutal attempt by Greek police to deport him.The man, who called himself Alexander, hijacked the bus with about 50 people on board near the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki and ordered it to be driven to Albania. He released all but eight of the hostages, then let another free as the bus headed towards the Greek-Albanian border. The hijacker, who is demanding 780,000 dollars and two automatic weapons, said he was the victim of Greek police brutality. It is the second time in less than two months that an Albanian has hijacked a Greek bus. Greeks were outraged in late May when an Albanian forced another public bus with nine hostages across the border to Albania where it was stormed by Albanian special police units, who killed the hijacker and a Greek passenger. In part because of such high-profile cases, Greek authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigrants, mainly Albanians, since the beginning of the month. Thousands have been rounded up and deported amid reports of rough treatment and abusive behaviour that have soured Greek-Albanian relations. [07] CYPRUS EUThe Council of Ministers today agreed on Cyprus' positions regarding the next three chapters of the acquis communautaire, which refer to the environment, transports, and taxation.Chief Cyprus negotiator, Giorgos Vassiliou, said that the positions on these three chapters will be submitted immediately, while its positions on the free movement of services will be handed in at the end of August. On transports, Mr Vassiliou said that there is a commitment to liberalise them, such as air transport and the handling of luggage at the airports. He also said that there would still be some exceptions on VAT items, such as children's clothes and food. [08] FOREIGN WORKERSThe Council of Ministers today decided to stop issuing work permits to foreigners until September 30.Minister of the Interior, Christodoulos Christodoulou, said that the details for the sectors affected are expected from the Minister of Labour within the next few days. Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Nicos Rolandis, said that the Council of Ministers has decided to grant five million pounds to potato growers, and about half a million pounds to pay off old debts. [09] CLERIDES FISHERMENPresident Glafcos Clerides today received the board of the Professional Fishermen's Council.Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Costas Themistocleous, said that it was agreed that criteria be set to specify who is a professional fisherman. It was also decided that special mechanisms be set up to determine the cost of damage that dolphins cause to nets. The Chairman of the Fishermen's Council, Andreas Adamou, thanked President Clerides for his understanding towards their problems. [10] LIMASSOL VESSELSA couple in Limassol threatened to torch themselves when the Police tried to confiscate water sport items they let to tourists in the Frangoklisia area.Nakis and Christina Markoullides drenched themselves in petrol and said they would set fire to themselves if the Police went ahead as planned. After 3-hour talks, the couple complied with instructions to remove their items from the beach and take them to another spot. [11] ROBBERYThe Cyprus and British Bases Police began a manhunt today to arrest two armed robbers, who snatched 600 pounds from a co-operative bank in the village of Zakaki.Two armed hooded persons entered the coop branch at 1 o'clock in the afternoon and demanded to be given the money in the till. The thieves, who dropped some of the money on their way out, made their escape in a car without number plates, and headed towards Limassol. At the time of the robbery, the coop was closed to the public. [12] WEATHERTomorrow will be fine with passing clouds in the afternoon.Winds in the morning will be north-westerly, light, two to three beaufort, and in the afternoon westerly to south-westerly, moderate, four beaufort. The sea will be slight. The temperature will reach 39 degrees inland, 33 on the south coast, 31 on the west coast, and 29 over the mountains. The fire hazard is extremely high in all forest areas. 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